Wednesday's American League Capsules

Wednesday's American League Capsules

July 26th, 2012 in News

SEATTLE (AP) - Pinch-hitter Jayson Nix lined a three-run double off reliever Shawn Kelley in the eighth inning, and New York rallied for a 5-2 victory over Seattle on Wednesday to complete a 2-5 West Coast trip.

Nix's liner scored Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano and Mark Teixeira. It was Nix's first hit in eight at-bats during the Yankees' trip.

Jeter homered in the first inning, his eighth of the season, off Hisashi Iwakuma.

Lucas Luetge (1-1) loaded the bases and was relieved by Kelley.

Nix is 2 for 3 this season as a pinch hitter.

David Phelps (2-3) threw 1 1-3 innings of relief and struck out two to get the victory. Rafael Soriano pitched the ninth for his 26th save in 28 chances.

Seattle got just one hit after Jesus Montero's broken-bat single with one out in the first inning.

Viciedo hit a two-run single in the second inning and added a two-run homer in the fourth, finishing with three hits. Alex Rios homered for the White Sox, who have won 10 of their last 11 home games.

Jake Peavy (8-7) allowed two runs - one earned - and six hits in six innings with six strikeouts and two walks.

Kevin Youkilis left the game in the fourth inning due to a sprained left ankle. He had an RBI single in the third before being lifted for a pinch-hitter.

Nick Blackburn (4-6) gave up a season-high eight runs and 10 hits in 4 1-3 innings as the Twins fell a season-worst 18 games below .500. Minnesota went 2 for 12 with runners in scoring position and lost to the White Sox for the 15th time in their last 19 meetings.

The Angels won the rubber game of the three-game series without slugger Albert Pujols, who missed his second game of the season because of a bruised right elbow.

Weaver (13-1) threw 101 pitches over five innings, allowing two runs and three hits while his AL-leading ERA rose from 2.20 to 2.27 because of Billy Butler's two-run homer in the fifth, his 20th.

Royals right-hander Luke Hochevar (6-9) was ejected in the fourth inning by plate umpire Bob Davidson after hitting Trout - immediately following a homer by Bobby Wilson that gave the Angels an 8-0 lead.

Trout's homer was his 16th. Hunter's was his 11th.

TIGERS 5, INDIANS 3

CLEVELAND (AP) - Max Scherzer allowed two runs over seven innings to win his fourth straight decision and Detroit beat Cleveland for only the second time in eight games this season.

Quintin Berry had three hits and drove in two runs to help Scherzer (10-5) win for the first time in four career starts at Progressive Field.

Scherzer, whose only mistake came on Casey Kotchman's two-run homer in the third, held the Indians to three hits, struck out eight and walked four.

Jose Valverde gave up Travis Hafner's one-out homer in the ninth before recording his 19th save in 23 chances.

The Tigers, who have won 14 of 17, remained tied for first in the AL Central with Chicago, while the third-place Indians fell four games out.

Derek Lowe (8-9) allowed five runs in six innings, but wasn't helped by shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera's throwing errors on consecutive plays that allowed two runs to score in the second.

RAYS 10, ORIOLES 1

BALTIMORE (AP) - David Price allowed one run over seven innings to earn his major league-leading 14th victory and Ryan Roberts homered and scored three runs in his Tampa Bay debut.

Desmond Jennings homered on the game's first pitch to spark a five-run first inning, Roberts connected with a man on in the third and rookie Jose Lobaton added a three-run drive in the fifth for a 10-1 lead.

Price (14-4) gave up seven hits, struck out 10 and walked none. The left-hander has won a career-high six straight decisions (over his last seven starts) and is 9-1 in 11 starts since May 20.

Lobaton finished with three hits and four RBIs, both career highs. The 10 runs were more than the light-hitting Rays totaled in their previous four games.

Jennings set the tone with his leadoff drive against rookie Miguel Gonzalez (2-2).

RANGERS 5, RED SOX 3

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Derek Holland struck out seven and pitched into the eighth inning and Texas took advantage of a couple of wild throws by Josh Beckett to score the go-ahead run.

Elvis Andrus was hit on the left forearm by a pitch to reach with one out in the seventh. He got to third on a single by Adrian Beltre and scored to break a 3-all tie when Beckett (5-9) threw a wild pitch that bounced several feet wide of the plate.

Holland (7-5) allowed three runs and five hits in 7 2-3 innings, and came out of the game soon after a stretch when he retired 20 of 22 batters.

Nelson Cruz led off the eighth with his 13th homer, to greet Red Sox reliever Matt Albers.

While retiring 20 of 22 batters, Holland gave up solo homers to Will Middlebrooks and Dustin Pedroia.

Beckett allowed nine hits and walked two in his seven innings.

ATHLETICS 16, BLUE JAYS 0

TORONTO (AP) - Coco Crisp hit two home runs and Yoenis Cespedes had two RBI doubles to lead Oakland to its season-high seventh straight win.

It was the most-lopsided shutout loss ever for Toronto. Things got so out of hand that the Blue Jays used catcher Jeff Mathis to pitch the ninth inning, and he gave up two runs on an RBI double by Brandon Hicks and an RBI single by Brandon Moss.

Chris Carter homered and drove in three runs. He drew a bases-loaded walk from Ricky Romero during an eight-run second inning as Oakland improved to 16-2 in July.

A.J. Griffin (3-0) gave up three hits in six innings. The rookie struck out nine in winning his third straight start and leaving with a 2.25 ERA.

Romero (8-7) lasted only 1 1-3 innings in the shortest start of his career. He lost his sixth decision in a row.